ABOUT THE CITY
Westchester County is a primarily a suburban county located in the southeastern part of New York State. It is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. At its southern most point Manhattan is less than 15 minutes away, but from the northernmost points in Westchester, which include Somers and Peekskill, it will take you closer to two hours to reach Grand Central Station. For commuters, there is continual service to Manhattan’s Grand Central Station and points within the county.
Westchester has somewhat misleadingly acquired an over generalized image of affluence (eighth highest per capita personal income), homogeneity, insularity, and elitism. It is also home to a maximum security state prison, Sing Sing, and a nuclear power plant, Indian Point.
You’ll enjoy visits to Playland located in Rye. Not only is it an amusement park, it’s on the National Register of Historic Places. Opened by the county in 1928, it was the first completely planned amusement park in the nation.
Westchester County
Westchester County is a suburban county in the southeastern part of the state of New York. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. At the closest point, Westchester is only 2 miles north of Manhattan. One can walk this distance in about 40 minutes, the amount of time it would typically take to drive from Westchester to Manhattan. However, most places in Westchester are much farther from most places in Manhattan than this example suggests.
There are six cities in Westchester County, listed by size: Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, White Plains, Peekskill, and Rye.
Towns:
History
The rights to the land in southern New York State that now make up Westchester County were purchased from the first-known residents, members of various Indian tribes, in the 17th Century. In the 300 years since, the area has changed from scattered farms and small villages to a county with more than 890,000 residents descended from most races and nationalities. Westchester’s early development was along the western boundary of the Hudson River and the eastern edge of Long Island Sound.
Fast Facts
Population: 923,459
Female: 51.2%
Median Age: 36.2
Ethnic Makeup
Afro American: 13.8%
Asian: 3.2%
Hispanic: 14.3%
White/Caucasian: 68.2%
Other: 0.5%
By Car
Virtually every major highway has been completely reconstructed over the last 10 years at a cost of more than one billion dollars. The net result is an extensive network of expressway, parkways and highways that is well designed and maintained, making Westchester’s highway network one of the best fully modernized in the nation. There are three major interstate highways that are part of the New York State Thruway System, and various Parkways such as the Hutchinson River, Saw Mill River, Cross County, Sprain Brook, Taconic State and the nation’s first. Bronx River Parkway. From central Westchester it takes only 30 minutes to midtown Manhattan; 35 minutes to northern New Jersey; 35 minutes to long Island; 20 minutes to southwestern Connecticut; and 3 hours to Boston.
Public Transportation
The bus system is an award-winning public/private sector operated system and the fourth largest system in New York State, with more than 300 buses daily on more than 50 routes. It primarily serves Westchester County with connecting services to Bronx subways, Metro-North Railroad, Putnam County transit, Transport of Rockland’s Tappan ZEExpress and Connecticut Transit’s I-Bus.
Westchester County Airport (HPN)
(914) 285-4860
240 Airport Road, Suite 202
White Plains, New York 10604
www.westchestergov.com/airport
Westchester County Airport located in White Plains is easily reached from anywhere in the County.
Voter Registration
New York Board of Elections
(800) FOR-VOTE
To Vote in New York, you must be:
• A United States citizen.
• 18 years old by the date of the election
• Live at your current address at least 30 days prior to an election.
• Not be in jail, or on parole, for a felony conviction.
• Submit your registration application 25 days prior to the date of election.
You can register in person at the County Board of Elections or register when you apply for your driver license, or by filling out a form online at the New York Board of Elections Website.
Local Phone Numbers
| Area Code | |
| Westchester County Area Code | 914 |
| Emergency | |
| All Emergencies (Fire, Police, Ambulance) | 911 |
| Child Abuse Prevention Ctr | (914) 997-2642 |
| Dept of Public Safety Division of | |
| Homeland Security Concerns/suspicions | (866) 457-8477 |
| US Marshals Svc | (914) 682-6175 |
| Utilities | |
| Cable and Internet | |
| Ameritech | (914) 686-6666 |
| www.ameritech.net | |
| Cablevision of Westchester | (914) 378-8900 |
| www.cablevision.com | |
| Gas and Electric | |
| Consolidated Edison Energy | (914) 993-2189 |
| www.coned.com | |
| Telephone | |
| MCI Telecommunications | (914) 684-2244 |
| www.mci.com | |
| NEXTLIN | (914) 993-5178 |
| www.nextlink.com | |
| Verizon | (914) 890-1550 |
| www.verizon.com | |
| Financial Services | |
| Automatic Teller Information | |
| ATM Locator | (800) 248-4286 |
| MasterCrd ATM | (800) 424-7787 |
| VISA Plus System | (800) 843-7587 |
| Lost or Stolen Credit Cards | |
| American Express | (800) 233-5432 |
| AT&T Universal Card | (800) 423-4343 |
| Diners Club | (800) 234-6377 |
| Discover Card | (800) 347-2683 |
| JCB | (800) 736-8111 |
| MasterCard | (800) 826-2181 |
| VISA | (800) 336-8472 |
| Lost or Stolen Travelers Checks | |
| American Express | (800) 221-7282 |
| Thomas Cook MasterCard | (800) 223-7373 |
| Travelers Check Customer Service | (800) 645-6556 |
| VISA | (800) 227-6811 |
| Government | |
| Assessor | (203) 256-3110 |
| Car Registration/Drivers License | (800) 842-8222 |
| Chamber of Commerce | (203) 255-1011 |
| Conservation Department | (203) 256-3071 |
| Building Department | (203) 256-3036 |
| Education Center | (203) 255-8300 |
| Fairfield Historical Society | (203) 259-1598 |
| Health Department | (203) 256-3020 |
| Housing Authority | (203) 255-7305 |
| Parking Authority | (203) 256-3053 |
| Parks Department | (203) 256-3010 |
| Passports | (203) 332-5312 |
| Police Department Information | (203) 254-4808 |
| Public Works | (203) 256-3010 |
| Registrar of Voters | (203) 256-3115 |
| Sewers Sewer Office | (203) 256-3003 |
| Social Security Cards | (203) 365-8452 |
| Storm Info Line | (203) 254-4899 |
| Town Clerk | (203) 256-3090 |
| Town Hall | (203) 256-3000 |
| Town Planning & Zoning | (203) 256-3050 |
| Hospitals | |
| Blythedale Children’s Hospital | (914) 592-7555 |
| Bradhurst Avenue | |
| Valhalla, NY 10595 | |
| www.blythedale.org | |
| Hudson Valley Hospital Center | (914) 737-9000 |
| 1980 Crompond Road | |
| Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567 | |
| www.hvhc.org | |
| Northern Westchester Hospital | (914) 666-1200 |
| 400 East Main Street | |
| Mount Kisco, NY 10549 | |
| www.nwhc.net | |
| Saint Joseph’s Medical Center | (914) 378-7000 |
| 127 South Broadway | |
| Yonkers, NY 10701 | |
| www.saintjosephs.org | |
| White Plains Hospital Center | (914) 681-0600 |
| Davis Avenue at East Post Road | |
| White Plains, NY 10601 | |
| www.wphospital.org | |
| Recreation | |
| Recreation and Parks | (914) 422-1336 |
| Skating Rink | (914) 422-1348 |
| Westchester Arts Workshop | (914) 684-0094 |
| Weinberg Nature Ctr. | (914) 722-1289 |
| Services /Support Networks | |
| Directory Assistance 411 | |
| Alcoholics Anonymous | (914) 949-1200 |
| American Red Cross | (914) 946-6500 |
| Arthritis Foundation | (914) 683-0842 |
| Community Action Program | (914) 946-4395 |
| Crisis Intervention Project | (914) 949-8200 |
| Family Service Of Westchester | (914) 948-8004 |
| North White Plains Library | (914) 948-6359 |
| NYS Commission for the Blind and Handicapped | (914) 993-5370 |
| Planned Parenthood | (914) 761-6566 |
| United Way Help Line | (914) 949-4636 |
| Volunteer Center | (914) 948-4452 |
| Westchester Association for Retarded Citizens | (914) 681-0656 |
| Westchester Shore Humane Society | (914) 835-3332 |
| White Plains City Library | (914) 422-1400 |
| YMCA of White Plains | (914) 949-4015 |
| YWCA White Plains & Central | (914) 949-6227 |
| Shipping & Postal Services | |
| Airborne Express | (800) 247-2676 |
| DHL Airways | (800) 225-5345 |
| Emery Worldwide | (800) 443-6379 |
| Federal Express | (800) 463-3339 |
| US Post Office | (800) 275-8777 |
Television
| 2 | WCBS | CBS |
| 4 | WNBC | NBC |
| 5 | WNYW | FOX |
| 7 | WABC | ABC |
| 11 | WPIX | CW |
| 17 | WEBR-CA | HSN (Sp.) |
| 24 | WNYE-DT | ind. |
| 25 | WNYE | ind. |
| 28 | WNBC-DT | NBC |
| 30 | WPXN-DT | ind. |
| 32 | WXNY-LP | LTV |
| 33 | WPIX-DT | CW |
| 44 | WNYW-DT | FOX |
| 45 | WABC-DT | ABC |
| 53 | WKOB-LP | KBS Korean |
| 56 | WCBS-DT | CBS |
| 60 | W60AI | HSN |
| 64 | WPIX | CW |
Radio
| AM Radio | ||
| 550 | WKNJ | news |
| 910 | WRKL | Polish |
| 1230 | WFAS | standards |
| 1300 | WRCR | ac |
| 1310 | WRVP | religious-español |
| 1420 | WLNA | standards |
| 1460 | WVOX | talk, news, variety |
| 1510 | WPUT | sports |
| FM Radio | ||
| 88.1 | WARY | college (Westchester Comm. Coll.) |
| 88.7 | WNYK | college (Nyack Coll.) |
| 90.3 | WDFH | community/alt./jazz/folk |
| 93.5 | WVIP | ethnic |
| 94.3 | WRDR | religious |
| 100.7 | WHUD | ac |
| 103.9 | WFAS | soft ac |
| 105.5 | WDBY | hot ac |
| 106.3 | WFAF | active rock |
| 107.1 | WXPK | adult alternative |
Newspapers
The Journal News
(914) 694-9300
One Gannett Drive
White Plains, NY 10604
The Mount Vernon Inquirer
(914) 665-7004
47 South 5th Avenue
Mount Vernon, NY 10550
The Rye Record
(914) 925-0540
14 Elm Place
Rye, NY 10580
Yonkers Tribune
(914) 378-1433
55 Main Street
Yonkers, NY 10701-2739
Museums & Galleries
Andrus Planetarium
(914) 963-4550
Glenview Mansion
Hudson River Museum
511 Warburton Avenue
Yonkers, NY 10701
The galleries and restored period rooms of Glenview, a vintage Hudson River home, feature exhibitions of American art, history and science, plus many programs for families.
Parks & Recreation
51 County parks with 15,900 acres of beautiful park land; County-owned amusement park, Playland; 5 County golf courses and 2 municipal golf courses; 43 private golf courses and clubs and the site of the N.Y. metropolitan area’s only annual PGA and LPGA events; 4 County trailways with more than 90 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails; 41 nature centers, preserves and conservancies.
Parks Department (203) 256-3010
Recreation and Parks (914) 422-1336
Sights
Purchase College Performing Arts Center
735 Anderson Hill Road
Purchase, NY 10577
(914) 251-6200
The largest regional performing arts center between New York City and Toronto, now in its 28th season!
Shopping
Cortlandt Town Center
(914) 526-4995
Route 6 (E. Main Street)
Mohegan Lake, NY 10547
Over 40 retailers serving northern Westchester, including Linens n’ Things, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, Marshall’s, Dress Barn, United Artist Theatre and more. Hours vary by store.
Education
Community Colleges
Community colleges exist for two major purposes. The first is to serve as a bridge from high school to college by providing courses for transfer toward a bachelor’s degree. Four out of 10 collegebound high-school graduates start their college education this way.
The second function of community colleges is to prepare students for the job market by offering entry-level career training as well as courses for adult students who want to upgrade their skills for the workplace. They often offer programs that are not available at four-year schools, like fashion design.
College of Westchester
(800) 333-4924
325 Central Avenue
White Plains, NY 10606
Regionally accredited two-year College
Liberal Arts Colleges
Liberal arts colleges offer a broad base of courses in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. Most are private and focus mainly on undergraduate students. Classes tend to be small and personal attention is available.
Concordia College
(914) 337-9300
171 White Plains Rd
Bronxville, NY 10708
4-year Liberal Arts College; 2-year; Associate Degrees College
Online Learning
Recent years have witnessed the rise of online degree programs, to allow the busy professional a chance to work at their own pace from the comfort of their home on the path to getting a degree. The costs to students are typically the same as for traditional classes— and financial aid is equally available—while the cost to the institution can be much less.
There are online universities ranging from legitimate distance learning systems to fly-by-night degree-mills. It’s important to research a particular institution before deciding to enroll in their system. Generally, brick-and-mortar schools that also offer online classes are the safest, though there are plenty of fully accredited online universities out there.
Nearly 3 million students are believed to be taking online classes at institutions of higher education in the United States this year. That number has been growing about 25% a year recently. Now, virtually all public higher education institutions, as well as a vast majority of private, for-profit institutions, now offer online classes. By contrast, only about half of private, nonprofit schools offer them. Online schools offer everything from Associate’s degrees to Doctoral programs with available emphases in everything from Business Administration to Criminal Justice to Nursing. Some programs require students to attend some campus classes or orientations, but many are delivered completely online. Online courses generally require a computer with a broadband connection, but are now a serious option for the busy professional.
Public vs. Private
Public colleges are usually less expensive, particularly for in-state residents. They get most of their money from the state or local government. Private colleges rely on tuition, fees, endowments, and other private sources. Private colleges are usually smaller and can offer more personalized attention and often more prestige.
College of New Rochelle
(914) 654-5000
29 Castle Place
New Rochelle, NY 10805
The first Catholic College for women in New York State.
Universities
Generally, a university is bigger than a college and offers more majors and research facilities. Class size often reflects institutional size and some classes may taught by graduate students.
Berkeley College
(914) 694-1122
99 Church Street
White Plains, NY 10601
A regionally accredited four-year college.
Iona College
(800) 231-IONA
715 North Ave.
New Rochelle, NY 10801
4-year College
Upper Division
Upper-division schools offer the last two years of undergraduate study, usually in specialized programs leading to a bachelor’s degree. Students then generally transfer to an upper-division college after completing an associate degree or after finishing a second year of study at a four-year college.
New York Medical College
(914) 594-4536
Valhalla, New York 10595
New York Medical College, a health sciences university, offers advanced degrees for individuals interested in careers in the medical, science and health professions.
Pace University (School of Law)
(914) 422-4000
78 North Broadway
White Plains, NY 10603
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